Argentina police searches prominent fugitive convicts

The security forces in Argentina have launched a major operation to arrest three prominent convicts who escaped from a high security prison on Sunday. Victor Schillaci and brothers Cristian and Martin Lanatta were serving life in prison for kidnapping and murdering three businessmen in 2008. They escaped from one of the country's most secure prisons using a fake gun to threaten one of the guards. The Buenos Aires province governor has sacked the prison system chief. Maria Florencia Piermarini had been appointed to the post by former Governor Daniel Scioli, who was defeated in November's presidential election. Advertisement "There was complicity from the prison system in their escape," said Governor Maria Eugenia Vidal. An ally of new President Mauricio Macri, Ms Vidal has been in power for less than a month. The Lanatta brothers and Victor Schillaci began their escape at 02:30 local time on Sunday (05:30 GMT).